Would be stupid for him to fall for it. Now they give him a better place, next day they give him to the US. Not to mention the whole CIA thing. Russia or even better China are the only countries he can feel relatively safe.
The sad truth is we said exactly the same thing during Trump’s first mandate. Granted it was not as bad as this time, but on a general principle: “we know someone like Trump can happen once, so we need to assume it will happen again!”. And… as soon as Biden started talking, the EU went back under a cozy mama-wing, easy solution.
This time might be different… or not. Far right parties are getting stronger in France, Germany, already in power in Italy. They all somewhat allied with Trump and his goons. All the effort made to render the EU sovereign could be discarded just as quickly as they were put in place. Imagine Trump’s successort is someone smart enough to understand (or rather not too stupid to not understand…) the benefit of US military supremacy and protection, and you may see some EU govs happily reduce their military spending again: the US promised to have their back!
At this stage, I am less pessimistic than I am careful: the direction is somewhat correct. We (the people) need to make sure it stays that way.
But for Snowden’s case: I wouldn’t come back either. The minute he sets land in Europe, he becomes a bargaining chip in sode negotiations with the US! He could try his chances in Spain, until the next election, then it’s uncertainty all over again.
Would be stupid for him to fall for it. Now they give him a better place, next day they give him to the US. Not to mention the whole CIA thing. Russia or even better China are the only countries he can feel relatively safe.
would be stupid for europe to continue a cozy relationship with the us at this point. The breakup has already started.
The sad truth is we said exactly the same thing during Trump’s first mandate. Granted it was not as bad as this time, but on a general principle: “we know someone like Trump can happen once, so we need to assume it will happen again!”. And… as soon as Biden started talking, the EU went back under a cozy mama-wing, easy solution.
This time might be different… or not. Far right parties are getting stronger in France, Germany, already in power in Italy. They all somewhat allied with Trump and his goons. All the effort made to render the EU sovereign could be discarded just as quickly as they were put in place. Imagine Trump’s successort is someone smart enough to understand (or rather not too stupid to not understand…) the benefit of US military supremacy and protection, and you may see some EU govs happily reduce their military spending again: the US promised to have their back!
At this stage, I am less pessimistic than I am careful: the direction is somewhat correct. We (the people) need to make sure it stays that way.
But for Snowden’s case: I wouldn’t come back either. The minute he sets land in Europe, he becomes a bargaining chip in sode negotiations with the US! He could try his chances in Spain, until the next election, then it’s uncertainty all over again.